Coin-controlled vending-machine.



A. D. GROVER & E. E. BARBER.

COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MAGHiNE.

APPLICATIUN FILED OCT. 21 1915.

Patented Sept. 17,1918. 3 SHEETS-SHEET l- [Ill m: mwms PETERS CO ,PH07v-L!YI10..WASHINGTON. n. c.

A. D. GROVER & E. E. BARBER.

COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2119M,

' 3 SHEETSSHEET 2.

Patented Sept. 17,1918.

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A. D. GROVER & E. E. BARBER.

COIN CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2, 1915.

Patented Sept. 17, 1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- a f V FFTE ALBERT D. GROVER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., AND EARL E. BARBER, 0F MALDEN, MASSA- CHUSETTS, .ASSIGNORS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO AUTOSALES CORPORATIONQA CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

COIN-CONTROLLED VENDING-MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, ALBERT D. GRovnR and EARL E. BARBER, citizens of the United States, and residents, respectively, of New York, county and State of New York, and Maiden, countyof Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin Controlled Vending-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

()ur invention relates to vending machines adapted to be operated upon the deposition of a coin for the delivery of a suitable commodity, and has for its general object the provision of a new and improved single-action machine suitable for attachment to the backs of theater chairs. In its preferred form, the machine of our invention comprise two compartments, but it will be clear that certain features may be embodied in a singlecompartment machine.

' One object of our invention is to provide a vending machine with a cylindrical cover or closure for the goods-compartment, said cover or closure being rotatably mounted in the casing and normally locked in closed position. This cover has an opening or cutaway portion to expose the goods for removal by the patron when the cover is in open position. Viewing this feature of our invention in a somewhat broader aspect, we may say that the casing of the machine is provided with a rotatable cylindrical cover which is adapted, when in open position, to SUPIJOI't and expose the goods.

Another object of our invention is to provide an actuating mechanism for the cover 'of the machine, so constructed as to auto? maticall lock the cover in open position. The cover cannot be moved into closed position until the actuating mechanism has been moved into releasing position. This is done by means of a special key inserted into the casing. The inserted key engages the actuating mechanism and moves the same into releasing position.

A further object of our invention is to provide a coin controlled mechanism by means of which the locking device for each cover is moved into releasing position through the medium of a coin resting on a support in the coin chute. A hand-operated member controlledfrom the outside of Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Se t, 17, 1918.

Original application filed April 6, 1912, Serial No. 688,909. Divided Serial No. 53,686.

the casing forces the deposited coin against the locking device. As soon as the cover is released, the actuating mechanism (previously referred to) moves the cover into open position and looks it in such position. The com support in the coin chute is movable and it 1s necessary to move it out of the com chute to release the coin. This releasmg movement of the coinsupport is in the preferred form of our invention accomplished by the same key which restores the actuating mechanism to unlock the open cover.

Another feature of our invention consists in a coin box provided with one or more rigid keys adapted to be inserted into the casing of themachine for releasing the coins retamed in the coin chutes and, preferably, also moving the lid-actuating mechanism into releasing position. The released coins drop into the box. This absolutely obviates all danger of the released coins dropping to the floor, when the collector comes to withdraw the money and replenish the machine.

The above and other objects and advantages of our invention will become apparent from a detailed description of the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1, is a front elevational view of a two compartment machine en'ibodying the various features of our invention;

Fig. 2, is a top plan view of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3, is a rear elevational view of Fig. 1, the cylindrical cover at the right being shown in open position, while the cover at the left is locked in closed position;

F ig. 4, is a transverse sectional view on line 4-4: of Fig.

Fig. 5, is a longitudinal sectional view on line 55 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Fig. 6, is a detail view of the locking device associated with each cover for holding the same locked in closed position;

Fig. 7, is a view similar to Fig. 3, and showing the keys of the coin box inserted in the casing to restore the actuating mechanisms for the covers and rock the coin sup ports out of the coin chutes to cause release of the coins;

Fig. 8, is a longitudinal view in eross-se'ction substantially on line 88 of Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

and this application filed October 2, 1915. f

Fig. 9, is a perspective view of our new coin-box provided with upstanding keys for restoring the actuating mechanisms for the covers and releasing the deposited coins.

The various operating parts of our machine are inclosed in a metallic casing which is substantially rectangular in form with rounded corners. The main body of the casing comprises a front wall 1, rear wall 2, sides 3 and s1 and a bottom 5.. The sides 7 and bottom are preferably formed of'one piece, as shown in Fig. 4. The rear wall of the casing may be cut away as shown at 6 in Figs. 3 and 7 to render ready. access to the working parts of the machine for inspection or removal. The size of the 021s ing in an actual machine will be about the same as that shown in the drawings. From this it will be seen that our machine is sulficiently small to be attached to the back of a theater chair without presenting any obstruction to persons passing. through the aisle at the back of the chair. The casing is of course given a finish to present a neat and attractive appearance.

A pair of cylindrical covers for the goodscompartments, indicated as a whole by A and B, are rotatably mounted in the casing upon opposite sides of the longitudinal center thereof. The mounting of these covers may be accomplished in various ways. In the drawings, we have shown each cover provided with a front stud 7 and a rear stud 8, by means of which they are ournaled in the front and rear walls, respectively, of the casing. This is best shown in Fig. 8. Each cover consistsof a front wall 9, a rear wall 10 and a cylindrical top portion 11. The covers may therefore be said to be cylindrical in form. The rear wall 10 of each cover is circular, while the front wall 9 is preferably cut away so as not to project beyond the upper edge 12 of the front wall 1 when the cover is in open position, as shown in Fig. 8. hen the cover A or B is closed, the front wall 9 and the top portion 11 actually form part of the outside of the closed casing. It will be observed that the top portion 11 of the covers extends about half way around, so that when the coveris in open position, the 'vend able article 13 is in exposed position to be removed by the patron, as shown at the left of Fig. 1. The :partindicated by 13 is intended to represent a cylindrical box of chewing gum, candy or other commodity. \Vhen the cover is in closed position, as shown at the right of Fig. 4, the box 13 res-ts upon a shelf or a partition When the cover is moved into open position in the direction indicated by the arrow at in Fig. 4, the top 11 scoops up the box 13, and supports the same until removed from the compartment. It will be clear from the foregoing that the coversA and B, whet r open or closed, do not at any time project beyond the casing, but are always arranged within the confines of the casing. The advantages of such a construction are obvious. A part projecting outside of the normal confines of the casing is liable to form an obstruction and catch the clothing of people passing by, as has been found in actual practice.

The rear wall 10 of each cover is provided with a rigid arm 16. As seen from Fig. 8, the arm 16 is arranged to move in the space 17 provided between the rear wall 2 of the casing and the rear wall 10 of the cover. The covers are spaced from the rear wall of the casing by means ofa-hub 18. The space 17 is closed at the top by means of a forwardly-projecting flange 19 provided at the upper edge of the rear wall 2. This flange also overhangs the rear wall 10 of each cover, so as to prevent the insertion of a sharp instrument into the space 17. With the arm 16 of each cover cooperates a lever 20, which is pivotally mounted on pin 21 supported in the front and rear walls of the casing. Each .of the levers 20 is shown in the drawings as an integral part of the sleeve 22 which is rotatably mounted on the pin or shaft 21. The sleeves 22 are each provided at the forward end with an arm 23 which extends downwardlyat a considerable angle to the lever 20. The lever 20 and the associated arm 23 are thus rigidly connected together and form in effect a bellcrank. A coil spring'2 1, wound around each of the sleeves 22, bears at its lower end 25 against the side of the casing and at its upper end 26 againsta pin 27 on the lever 20. The normal or unoperated position of the lever 20 is that shown at the left of Fig. 3, or at the right of Fig. l. In this position, the upper .end of the lever 20 engages the lower end of the edge 28 of the arm 16. It will be apparent from Fig. 3 that, with the cover B freeto move, the lever 20 will under the influence of spring 2 1 rotate the arm 16, and with it the cover B, in a clockwise direction, as indicated by the arrow 5. At the end of such movement, the parts will occupy the position shown at the right of Fig. 3 or at the left of Fig. 4. It will be observed that when the cover is in .open position, the upper end of the lever 20 engages the locking edge 29 of the arm 16. It is evident that as the locking edge 29 is substantially at right angles to the lever 20, the engagement of these two parts positively prevents movement of the arm 16. ,In other words, when the locking lever 20 has reached the end of its movement to open the com partment, it automatically locks the cover in open position. This is one of the most important features of our invention. By thus being able to dispense with a separate locking mecha ism to hold the lid in open position, we greatly simplify the construction and operation of the machine.

The rear wall 10 of each cover is provided with a notch 30 in which engages the locking pawl 31.. This pawl is rigid with the sleeve 32 by means of which it is rotatably, mounted on the pin or stud 33 secured to the front wall of the casing. The pawls 31 project each through a recess 34 in the transverse partition 15. This partition is held in place by engaging at its ends in the slotted projections 35 carried by the side walls of the casing, as best shown in Fig. 4. From the sleeve 32 depends an arm 36 which may be conveniently formed integral with the sleeve. The arm 36 carries a pin 37 which engages the lower end of the coil spring 38 wound around the sleeve 32. The upper end 39 of this spring abuts against the under side of the partition 15. The tendency of the spring 38 is to hold the locking pawl 31 in the notch 30 of the associated cover, as shown at the left of Fig. 3. The pawl 31 and arm 36, which are rigid with the sleeve 32, operate as one piece which may conveniently be referred to as a locking device. It will be clear that when the arm 36 of the locking device is moved outwardly that is to say, away from the longitudinal center of the casingthe pawl 31 is rocked out of engagement with the associated cover, so that the corresponding actuatingmechanism is free to open the cover.

In the casing are arranged two coin chutes 40 which diverge downwardly from the space between the two compartments or chambers for the goods. Each coin chute is provided with a curved extension 41 which bears against the block 42 rigidly arranged between the front and rear walls of the easing. Block 42 is held in place by means of a screw 43 which enters the block from the rear wall of the casing. The sides of the block 42 are curved to accommodate the curved extensions 41 of the coin chutes. The extensions 41 are provided with lateral flanges 44 having the coin slots 45. lower or underside of each coin chute is provided with an opening or cut-away portion 46,-while the upper side is provided with an opening or cutaway portion 47. The openings 47 are wide enough to permit the passage therethrough of a proper coin. Through the opening 47 of each coin chute extends a coin support 48 on which a deposited coin will rest 'until released. It

should be noted that the coin support 48 extends into the'coin chute a little below the lower end of the opening 46. The purpose ofthis will be presently explained. The coin support 48 is provided with'a pair of arms 49 which are pivoted on a pin-50 carried by the front wall of the casing, as best shown. in Fig. 8. The coin supports 48 are normally held in the position shown in Figs.

The

3 and 4 by means of a spring 51 coiled about the pin 50. The upper end of this spring bears against the lug 52 projecting from the front wall of the casing, while the lower end of the spring bears against one of the arms 49 at the point The inward movement'of the coin support is limited by its engagement with the underside of the coin chute. A pin or rod 54, rigidly secured in the bottom of the casing extends upwardly toward the opening 46 of each coin chute. The upper end of the pin 54 terminates substantially in alinement with the lower wall of the coin chute and is at such distance from the coin support 48 that a coin '55 resting on the coin support (as shown at the right of Fig. 4) is engaged on its underside by the pin 54 substantially at the center. In this way the pin 54 forms a prop for the coin. Should the deposited check be a washer 56 having the usual opening 57 in its center, the washer will fall by gravity out of the coin chute throi'lgh the opening 26 and be strung, as it were,'on the pin 54. The falling washer is indicated in dotted lines at 56 in Fig. 4. The final position of the washer is indicated at 56 in full lines. In order to facilitate the stringing of the washers on the pins, the latter are preferably curved. In the space between the coin chutes 40 operates a depending arm 58 which is rigidly secured to the inner end of the operating shaft 59 by any suitable means, such as a pin 60. This shaft is journaled in the hub portion 61 of the front plate 1 and extends outside of the casing to receive the operating knob or wheel 62. The knob 62 is rigidly connected with the shaft 59 in any suitable manneras, for instance, by means of the pin 63. The actuating arm 58 is held in its central or norn'l'al'position by a pair of. centralizing springs 64 which. engage at their upper ends the op posite sides of the pin 65 carried by the arm 58. The springs 64 are coiled about a pair of studs 66 carried by the front wall. of the casing. The lower ends of the centralizing springs 64 bear against a pin 67 projecting inwardly from the front wall of the casing. Any suitable centralizing means for the arm 58 may be employed, but the arrangement of double springs which we have shown is particularly effective, without interfering with the proper operation of the arm. The function of the arm is to move the deposited coin against the arm 36 of one or the other of the two locking devices to move the same out of locking engagement with the compartments. This operation is best shown at the left of Fig; 4 where the deposited coin 68 has been forced by the arm 58 against the cam surface 69 of the arm 36. The latter is preferably slotted at 70 at its lower end. so that the cam surface 69 may contact with the coin at opposite sides of the vertical center of the coin. The arm 58, on the other hand, engages the coin substantially on its vertical center, so that the coin is firmly held between the arm 36 and the arm v58 without danger of slipping or being twisted to one side or the other. The movement of the coin by the arm 58 against the arm 36 of the locking device is a pivotal movement substantially about the point where the coin rests on the support 48 1n the coin chute. The object of having the support 48 a little below the lower end of the opening 46, as heretofore referred to, is to prevent the slipping of the coin at its lower end during the pivotal movement.

The operation of our machine as thus far described will now be clearly understood, but it may be briefly restated as follows: When a patron desires to obtain a package out of compartment closed by the cover A, whlch is the left compartment, he deposits the proper coin in the left of the two coin slots 45. On the other hand, should he want the goods in the compartment closed by the cover B, he deposits a coin in the other coin slot. Assuming that the proper coin has been deposited in the coin slot associated with cover A, the patron turns the knob 62 in a clockwise direction as far as he can. While the knob is thus turned, the arm 58 is brought against the deposited coin 65 (see left of Fig. 4:) until the coin has rocked the locking device of the cover A out of the notch 30. As soon as the cover is released, the actuating lever 20 is under the influence of the spring 2% moved from the position shown at the left of Fig. 3 to the position shown at the left of Fig. l, thereby rotating the cover into open position and automati cally locking the same, as heretofore described in detail; When the compartment is open, the box '13 containing the vendable goods is accessible to the patron and is read ily removed by the hand. hen a coin has been deposited in the righthand slot, the patron turns the knob in a counter clockwise direction, so as to bring the arm 58 against the coin in the right-hand coin chute. It should be observed that the machine will not operate unless a proper coin is deposited. The size of the coin slots 45 prevents the deposition of a coin larger than that intended for the machine. Should a coin of smaller than the prescribed diameter be deposited, the arm 36 will not be sufficiently actuated to move the pawl 31 out of the notch 30 of the associated compartment. Should .a washer of the proper dimensions be deposited, it will find no support in the coin chute and will drop on to one of the pins 54:, as previously eXplained. In order to prevent the extraction of a proper coin to which a string has been attached, we have arranged a dog 69 to hang into each of the coin chutes through the opening 47. The dogs 69 are pivoted on pins 70 carried by pull on the string be sufliciently hard, the

edge 47 will sever the same.

It will be observed that each of the covers is provided with a flange 72 which, when the cover is in closed position, rests in the recess 73 formed on each side of the casing. In this way it is impossible to pry the machine open by inserting an instrument under the flange 72. hen the cover is in open position, the flange 72 rests on the extension 44 of the adjacent coin chute and covers or obstructs the coin slot 45, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The flange 79. thus performs atriple function: namely, it forms a positive stop for the cover in closed position, it also limits the movement of the compartment to open position, and furthermore automatically covers or obstructs the'coin chute, so as to prevent the deposition of a coin when the machine is open.

We will now describe how the open compartment is closed after being refilled, and how the coins are taken out of the machine. The arm 23 of each actuating mechanism is provided at its lower end with a lateral lug or pin 74. The arms 49 of each coin sup-' port are at the upper end connected together by a pin 75. 'The relative position of the pins 7a and is such that when a suitable key 7 6 is inserted through ancopening at the bottom of the casing, the pins engage the key upon opposite sides and are forced apart. In this way the coin support and the associated actuating mechanism are moved from the position shown at the right of Fig. 3 to a position corresponding to that shown on bothsides of Fig. 7. In other words (referring to the right half of Fig. 3), when the key 76 with its tapered end 77 is inserted between the pins 74 and 75, the coin support a8 is rocked out of the coin chute to release the deposited coin, while at the same time the lever 20 is moved from its locking position to the position shown in Fig. 7. The restoration of the lever 20 permits the open cover to be moved back to a closed position. This is not done, of course, until after it has been replenished by theperson in charge. This person will also have the key 76. When the cover reaches the end of its movement into closed position, the associated locking pawl 31 automatically snaps into the recess 30, so that the mere act of closing the cover causes it to be automatically locked.

In order to effect the'simultaneous release of the coins in both coin chutes, we have provided a coin box 78 to which the keys 7 6 are attached or of which they form an integral part. When the keys of this coin box are inserted through corresponding openings at the bottom of the casing, the operation above described with respect to one key, takes place simultaneously with respect to both keys. In this way, the mere insertion of the two keys on the coin box into the machine, releases both coins and simultaneously restores the two actuating mechanisms into initial position, so that the operator may fill the compartments and swing the covers into closed position. The released coins drop into the coin box 78. It will thus be clear that the operation of releasing the coins and replenishing the machine is exceedingly simple and requires only a few seconds. The advantages of providing a coin box with one or both releasing keys, are obvious. It oftentimes happens that when a collector goes around in a theater to replenish the machines and collect the money, the released coins drop out of his hands and roll to the floor. These coins are frequently lost because the collecting is done at a time when the theater is dark, and furthermore the collector has no time to look for the dropped coins. With our improved releasing devlce, the loss of coins is absolutely prevented, because when the keys are inserted in the machine the coin box is in position to catch the released coins. Furthermore, in the old way of collecting the coins from machines heretofore used, the collector had to use one hand to insert the releasing key and the other hand to catch the released coin. By the use of our improved releasing device, the collector uses one hand to insert the keys of the coin box and the other hand to replenish the machine and close the compartments. WVhere the features of our invention are embodied in a single-compartment machine, the coin box will, of course, have but one key. Obviously, the keys may assume a variety of forms. It should be understood in this con-- nection that the simultaneous release of the coins in a plurality of coin chutes may be accomplished by a key mechanism in which the keys are rigidly connected together otherwise than by a coin box. Such key mechanism comes within the broad scope of our invention.

While we have herein shown and described one specific embodiment of our invention, we would have it understood that we do not intend to be limited to the precise form shown, but that various changes and modifications may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of our invention as defined in the appended claims.

This application is a division of our copending application, Serial No. 688,909, filed April 6, 1912, and is limited to the dispensing features of our invention. The claims in the original application are dirooted to the coin-controlled features, and these are therefore not claimed in this case.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In a vending machine, a casing provided with a rotatable cover, an arm connected with said cover, and a movable lever arranged to engage said arm for rotating said cover into open position, the engagement of said arm and lever automatically locking the cover in open position.

2. In a vending machine, the combination of a casing provided with a cover, a springpressed lever for actuating said cover into open position and automatically locking it in such position, and a key for restoring said lever to initial position.

3. In a vending machine, a casing provided with a rotatable cover, an arm connected with said cover, a'movable lever arranged to engage said arm for rotating said cover into openvposition, the engagement of, said arm and lever automatically locking the cover in open position, and a key for restoring said lever to initial position.

4. Ina vending machine, a casing having a chamber or compartment for the goods, a stationary member in said chamber for supporting the goods when said chamber is closed, a cylindrical cover for said chamber mounted to rotate transversely of said casing and normally held in closed position, said cover being adapted to scoop the goods from 05 said member and support them for removal when actuated into open position, and means for rotating said cover into open position. r

5. In a vending machine, a flat and substantially rectangular casing having a chamber or compartment for the goods, a cylindrical cover for said chamber mounted to rotate transversely of said casing between the front and rear walls thereof, mechanism for rotating said cover into open position, and a hand-operated part on the front Wall of said casing for actuating said mechanism.

6. In a vending machine, a flat and substantially rectangular casing having a pair of chambers or compartments for the goods, a pair of oppositely rotatable cylindrical covers for said chambers or compartments, said covers'being mounted between the front and rear walls of said casing and rotatable transversely thereof, mechanism associated with each cover for rotating the same into open position, and a single.hand-operated part on the outside of said casing and movable in one direction or the other for actuating the desired mechanism.

7. In a vending machine, a casing pro vided with a rotatable cylindrical cover having a closed portion and a cut-away portion, said closed portion forming part of the casing when the cover is in closed position, a locking device for normally holding said cover in closed position, means for releasing said locking device, and mechanism for rotatin-g the unlocked cover into open position to expose said cut-away portion and thereby permit the removal of the goods, said actuating mechanism being adapted to automatically lock the cover in open position.

' 8. In a Vending machine, a closed casing provided with a pair of cylindrical covers mounted to rotate in opposite directions transversely of said casing, said covers forming part of the closed top of said casing when in closed positionand being adapted to support the goods for removal when in open position, and means independent of said covers for supporting the goods when said covers are in closed position.

9. In a vending machine, a flat and substantially rectangular casing, a cylindrical cover mounted between the front and rear walls of said casing and rotatable in the plane thereof, said cover being normally closed, mechanism within said casing for rotating said cover into open position, and means on the outside of said casing for manually operating said mechanism, said cover being at all times within the confines of said casing.

10. In a vending machine, a casing provided with a rotatable cylindrical cover arranged at all times within the confines of said casing, and mechanism for rotating said cover into open position, said mechanism being adapted when in actuated position to automatically lock said cover in open position.

11. In a vending machine, a casing provided with a rotatable cylindrical cover arranged at all times within the confines of said casing, mechanism for rotating said cover into open position, said mechanism being adapted when in actuated position to automatically lock said cover in open posi tion, and keyoperated means for resetting said mechanism to normal or initial position to permit the closing of said cover.

12. In a vending machine, a flat and substantially rectangular casing provided with a cover, a rotary member movable in the' plane of said casing for actuating said cover into open positionand automatically locking it in such position, and means for restoring said member toinitial position.

13. In a vending machine, a fiat and substantially rectangular casing, a cylindrical Copies of tliil' patent may be obtdi'nfed for five dents" each, by addressing the Go'mnii s'sioner o! Fatents; Washington, 13:0. 

